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My Pappaw (grandfather) bought a new scooter from Honda back in 1982, something he never rode much beyond the visits of my sister and me. Being 12 years old, holding onto my Pappaw as we raced along upwards of 45-50mph... these are of my fondest memories with him, and my childhood.
When Pappaw got sick many years later, my grandma asked if I'd wish to pull it out of their toolshed to fix it up for use. By coincidence, I had already been provoked by friend Miss Lifsey into considering getting a motorbike, something fun to drive around Richmond. I went and brought it down from Pennsylvania, then helped my dad restore it enough to become my main transportation. Driving it thrilled enough to make both University classes and work looked forward to, solely for the giddy ride there. Also, an amazing 110mpg greatly satisfied an ongoing sense of conservation.
In early-mid 2004, on a vacation return to Richmond from Berlin, I pulled the bike out again and set it up. Apparently, I'd forgotten to tighten the oilnut properly, as a week later while I was coming home late from work, she slowed, choked then seized up. I walked her home to find all of the oil had indeed dropped out and it had run long enough without to kill the engine. A new plug, fresh oil, and I eventually kicked it grudgingly back to life. With ugly clunking, and after two city blocks, something metal (piston?) broke off and dinged around violently inside. Again, I walked her home, this time to be drained and put to storage in half a felled grain silo.
Around that time, my Pappaw died as well.
I returned to Germany, and this was a year and a half ago. Since, what was such a source of fun had become remorse, regret and disappointment.
On this current unexpected return to the States, I decided to make right and repair this bike. Each week, I've done something about it: bringing it up to my new workshed, removing the engine, opening the engine and finally deciding to buy a new one.
My whole new 72cc engine (carburetor, transmission, alternator, wiring, etc) should arrive by mail this weekend. It's an exact clone of the 1982 original, which I intend to install by myself, along with other missing parts, and have gleefully running before the New Year.
Edit:
When my father attempted to repair this scooter in late 2004, parts removed were placed in buckets, and several went missing.
The new engine has been hung, existing parts reattached. One missing part, the lower half of the air filter casing, is no longer produced and has been a pain to replace. One online store in Holland says they have one coming to me, which should be the last piece of the puzzle to get her running. We'll soon see, hopefully, and I've yet two months before heading back to Berlin.
5:03 PM
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